Masters Winner 2013: Adam Scott Shuts Up Critics with Satisfying Victory

Adam Scott just proved there is no such thing as the "clutch gene," and if there is, he is most certainly the owner of one. 

Just nine months ago, that definitely wasn't the case, as Scott bogeyed the final four holes of the Open Championship, losing his four-stroke lead to Ernie Els faster than you can say "Greg Norman," and queuing up the lazy narratives in the process.

"Scott choked." "Scott can't play under pressure." "Scott will never win a major because he is severely unclutch." "This colossal meltdown will haunt him for his entire career."

Welp. I think it's probably safe to put those stories to bed. 

The 32-year-old entered Sunday at six-under, just one stroke behind leaders Angel Cabrera and Brandt Snedeker. The crowded leaderboard laid ground for loads of different projections, but no one seemed to believe in the man who had so recently coughed up a golden opportunity for a major.

After he birdied 13 and 15 to move into a tie for the lead at eight-under, however, people began to take notice. But how would he respond under pressure, where he "clearly doesn't thrive"?

If you guessed that he would respond like he's Happy Gilmore after going through mini-golf training with Chubbs, then you were right on.

In what turned out to be a must-have putt, Scott calmly buried a 25-footer on the 18th green to dramatically take the lead into the clubhouse: 

After Angel Cabrera tied it up moments later, Scott then drilled this 20-footer on the second playoff hole to win the biggest golf tournament in the world:

Not only did he win the Masters, but he did it in a way that his critics thought impossible. You won't find two more impressive, cold-blooded, you-can't-phase-me putts under more pressure. Ever. 

Sports Illustrated's Peter King summed it with a few simple words:

And to think, this is a guy who just a few months ago was being called one of the biggest choke artists in the history of golf. 

Some players handle pressure better than others, but the idea that certain golfers simply fold every time they are in a tense situation while others drain every must-have putt is ludicrous. 

Adam Scott, who is now both the most unclutch and clutch player of all time, proves just that.